- Trevor James, AgResearch / Allan Herbarium, Landcare Research / Auckland Museum Herbarium
Pith is not cobwebby, and stems are wiry
- Auckland Museum Herbarium / Trevor James, AgResearch
Stem ridges are distinct, and base sheaths are pink or red-brown in colour
- Kerry Bodmin, NIWA / Bush Heritage Australia / Paul Champion, NIWA
Stem ridges are not distinct, and base sheaths are golden to dark straw brown
- Trevor James, AgResearch
Flowers are evenly distributed on branches/branchlets
- Trevor James, AgResearch
Flower heads are less than half length of the entire plant